Common Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
Flowers
Numerous flattened heads of small white flowers (often with purple dots) occur at the ends of the upper stems. Each head is up to ¾" across and can contain up to 50 flowers.
Fruits
Each small flower produces 4 tiny, finely pitted, dull black seeds. These seeds are distributed to some extent by the wind.
Leaves
The green or reddish stems are strongly four-angled and have scattered white hairs along the ridges. The opposite leaves are up to 2½" long and narrowly lanceolate or linear. They are sessile, and have smooth margins. The largest leaves are ¼ - ½" across. When damaged, the foliage releases a strong mint scent.
Habitats
Habitats include moist sand prairies, moist meadows in woodland areas, thickets, fens, swamps, and rocky bluffs.
Fun Facts
They are said to repel mosquitoes and can be crushed and rubbed on the skin as a repellent.
Many insects are strongly attracted to the flowers, including various bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, and beetles. Typical visitors from these groups include honeybees, Cuckoo bees, Halictid bees, Sphecid wasps, Eumenine wasps, bee flies, Tachinid flies, Wedge-shaped beetles, and Pearl Crescent butterflies.
****Take a walk through the butterfly garden and use your nose to guide you to the minty fragrance coming from the Common Mountain Mint. The bees sure like it!!